Mbappe: 22 World Cup goals defy trophyless season in award race
The Real Madrid forward seeks the Ballon d'Or on individual records alone, defying a decade-long trend favoring team winners.
By Noor Phillips ·
Kylian Mbappe is pressing his case for the Ballon d'Or ahead of Monday's ceremony in London, relying on a record-setting goal tally to offset a season devoid of major trophies. The 2025-26 campaign, which the award covers, ended without silverware for the Real Madrid forward at either the club or international level. Despite this gap in his cabinet, he has campaigned aggressively for the individual honor, which carries no cash prize but elevates a player's market value and status.
The central pillar of Mbappe's argument is his performance at the 2026 World Cup in North America. He finished as the tournament's top scorer for the second consecutive edition, a feat that placed him at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring list. Mbappe scored 22 goals in 22 matches, moving past Lionel Messi, who sits second with 21, and Miroslav Klose, who is third with 16.
"Being the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, overtaking all the great legends in the history of the sport in the most important tournament there is, is something that really stands out," Mbappe said last month. When asked directly who he was voting for, he answered, "Myself."
His domestic and European club performances reinforced this statistical dominance. Mbappe finished as La Liga's top scorer with 25 goals and also led the Champions League scoring charts with 15 goals. "I was top scorer in all the biggest competitions, and I think that this could be a good year for me, and I really feel it," the former Paris Saint-Germain forward stated.
The primary challenge facing his bid is the absence of team success. Real Madrid navigated a turbulent season, changing managers from Xabi Alonso to Alvaro Arbeloa. The club finished second in La Liga and were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. This result extended Madrid's run without a major trophy to a second consecutive year.
On the international stage, France placed fourth at the World Cup. The team lost to Spain in the semifinals and subsequently lost to England in the third-place playoff. Rival candidates have stronger claims based on silverware. Lamine Yamal won the World Cup with Spain and the La Liga title with Barcelona. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich collected three trophies, including the Bundesliga championship.
Mbappe remains focused on the individual nature of the award. "They won't announce a team in the envelope; they will announce a player," he told RFI. He argued that consistent individual performance and high-profile moments are the key factors voters consider. His manager, Jose Mourinho, supported the forward's position. "We know who has made history this summer, and he's not from PSG or the Spanish national team," Mourinho said.
Historical trends present a hurdle for the Frenchman. Every Ballon d'Or winner over the past decade lifted at least one major trophy in the year of the award. Ousmane Dembele, the 2025 winner, guided PSG to their first Champions League title. Rodri, the previous winner, secured Euro 2024 with Spain and the Premier League with Manchester City.
One precedent exists for a trophyless winner. Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid won the award in 2013 without a major team trophy. That season, Ronaldo scored 66 goals for club and country while Portugal failed to advance past the World Cup playoffs and Real Madrid finished as league runners-up. Mbappe, who has received nine nominations and placed third in 2023, is now attempting to replicate that path.
